Recently in Wyoming Category

That was quick. Wyoming has scored a 14-1, four-inning, mercy-rule victory over Alaska. The game took only 1 hour, 27 minutes - most of it chewed up by a second inning during which Wymong sent 19 men to the plate and scored all of its runs. 

Dylan Bainer hit a two-run home run for Wyoming. Also pacing the Laramie team were Drew Burman, Tommy Naghtigal and Brian Lopez with two hits each.  

OK. Whew. Wyoming scored 14 runs in the second inning and are now ahead 14-1. The Laramie team batted around twice. Pitcher Robbie Harding had three at-bats in the inning. Drew Burman and Brian Lopez each had two hits in the frame.

Wyoming has scored six in the second and leads Alaska 6-1. There is one out and the bag are drunk and Alaska is making a pitching change. This could be a long game ... or a short one if it's a mercy rule.

Wyoming scored six runs in the sixth inning and then survived a Montana rally to hold on for a 13-11 win Monday morning in the Northwest Regional Tournament.

Wyoming got three home runs from shortstop Daylan McWhorter, who also got a save and had five put outs at short.

It was one of the wildest games of the tournament, with eight home runs and a diving catch leftfielder Drew Burman to stave off Montana's rally in the sixth inning.

Montana got back-to-back home runs from Winston Cox and Logan Laird, including one in the sixth. Montana also got a home run from Brett Dringman.

However, it was the slightly built McWhorter, who stole the show with solo home runs in the second, fourth and then a huge three-run shot in the fifth that hit the souvenir stand in right field.

Wyoming improves to 2-1, while Montana falls to 1-2.

Wyoming's Brian Lopez hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth but it wasn't enough to lift Laramie past Oregon on Friday.

More to come.

Wyoming capitalized on serious control issues from Oregon's pitchers and walked its way to four runs in the bottom of the third to cut Oregon's lead to 16-12. However, Wyoming left three runners stranded. Wyoming had just one hit.

Wyoming is showing plenty of fight here against Oregon, and Brian Lopez just smacked a two-run home run off the right field porch to bring Wyoming within one, 9-8. Wyoming started the inning down 9-1. 

Wyoming's Tommy Nachtigol may have just hit the longest home run of the tournament with a shot over Tent City in centerfield. Wyoming still trails Oregon 7-1 in the bottom of the first. 

Jacob Zanon just hit a solo home run for Oregon, which leads 1-0 in the first inning against Wyoming.

There are two Brian Lopezes in action at the regional.

One is Brian Lopez Sr., a Western Regional umpire here from Laramie, Wyo. Another is Brian's son, Brian Lopez Jr., a tall pitcher/shortstop for Wyoming.

"It's an unbelievable experience for both of us to be in the same tournament," said Brian Sr., who watched the game in civilian clothes from the Wyoming section along the first-base line.

It was a thrilling day for both Lopezes as Brian Jr. hit a double and a home run to help the Laramie team to a 5-4 victory, snapping an eight-game losing streak for the Wyoming representative over the past two-plus years. The young Brian also did a nice job on the mound over the first three innings, giving up just one run.

Brian Sr. will not be allowed to umpire any of his son's games in the regional, by the way. 

 

More on the Lopezes later.

 

Wyoming got home runs from Robbie Harding and Brian Lopez Jr. to defeat Idaho 5-4 in the first game of the Northwest Regional at Al Hougton Stadium.

The victory snapped Wyoming's eight-game losing streak at the regional.

Lopez, who was Laramie, Wyo. starting pitcher, reached base three times, had two runs scored for Wyoming. His solo home run came in the fourth to break open a 1-1 tie.

Idaho rallied in the fifth with three runs, including a two-run single by Landon Peterson. Garrett Peterson later doubled to score Landon. Idaho looked like it was going to get a fourth run but the umpires ruled a basehit as a foul ball.

That cleared the way for Wyoming to erupt for three runs in the sixth. With Lopez on after a walk, Harding homered to tie the game. Dylan Lopez singled and later scored on a wild pitch to give Wyoming the lead.

Wyoming returns to action on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. against Oregon. Idaho plays Montana at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Western Region Director Jim Gerstenlager was in attendance at the Southern California Little League championship and said that Laramie Little League will, once again, represent Wyoming in the Northwest Region. 

Utah
Cedar City American is coming for the first time.

Nevada
Henderson Paseo Verde is making its first appearance.

Oregon

Washington
Mill Creek faced a tough task against Bainbridge Island, and still faces a tough road to San Bernardino against one of five teams still alive. Mill Creek's program is one of the state's best but hasn't been in California in 2002.

Arizona
Pool play wraps up Thursday, with the semifinals on Friday and the championship on Saturday. Arrowhead has been tough in Pool A, but look out for Canyon View and Scottsdale McCormick Ranch. Arrowhead is unbeaten.

Northern California
The tournament opened on Wednesday. Pleasanton had an impressive offensive effort with 18 runs in its win over Foothill. East Turlock American needed eight innings for a 1-0 win over Briarwood-El Camino. The winners bracket features Petaluma Valley and Woodcreek.

Southern California
It's starting to feel like an all Orange County final with Aliso Viejo already in the So Cal final, while Tustin needs a victory to advance.

Hawaii
The title game was played on Wednesday between Kaimuki and Waipio, which reached the West last season. Kaimuki was unbeaten but it had not played Waipio in the tournament.

Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming
It's uncertain as to which teams are in the state tournaments here but it would not be surprising to see the usual suspects: Missoula Southside (Montana), Dimond West (Alaska), North Boise (Idaho) and Laramie (Wyoming) back in San Bernardino.